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Big encryption problem

Hello everybody

I've got a big problem regarding windows encryption. Heres the deal-

I have 2 hard drives. One for files, one for the Windows xp operating system and software. Just recently, I formatted the xp pro operating system and installed XP pro with a new XP cd. (XP PRO) I just realized that I don't have access to some of the files on my second hard drive. I have a huge bibliography on that drive, which I need for a research paper.

So my question-

I'm using the same username and password on this new installation. I own this computer, I have full privledges, I am using legit CD's, and I know my passwords. I get the attached error when I try to open the word document. I need to know how to give myself privledges to my own files. I am looking at ways, but they seem to need a certificate from the old XP install, which is now formatted. I know the username, and password of the old accounts, because it's mine. Is there some way I can open this file???

Basically what you need to do is take permission over all the old files. What has happened is the old OS applied SID's (Security Identifiers) and the new install will generate different SID's despite the same names and passwords, so to fix this navigate to the other hard drive, right click the file, go to Sharing and Security should be an advanced option or a security button, what you need to do is click on the that and it should bring you to a permissions area, you will have to take permission of all the folders and subfolders and add your new login/administrator name to them. If you need let me know and Ill take some screen shots to better show you

Well he hadnt specified if he actually used something like EFS or another encryption program, other than I suppose the title of the thread and the error message looks strangely like one I have seen on my old computer when I had permissions setup so I figured I would cover that base before we dug too deep into it...after I posted and read your post I remembered I wasnt even considering efs
but anything is worth a try

It would help if Soda would wake up and tell us
Would changing his Windows key (which can be easily done... if his Windows copy is legal, he should have a key) back to the original one help to get around EFS?